Burnham-On-Sea has this week been named as one of the UK’s top seven most ‘coach-friendly’ travel destinations.
The town missed out on winning the top prize at the British Coach Tourism Awards, held on Wednesday in Birmingham.
Burnham-On-Sea was a finalist for the title of the UK’s ‘most coach-friendly destination’ and was up against Beverley, Bournemouth, Devon, Guildford, Otley and Wells.
Over 450 tourism representatives from across the UK attended the awards ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum, which was overseen by TV personality Angela Rippon.
Burnham was represented by Burnham’s Coach Destination Manager Les Barber, town councillor Andy Brewer and Burnham Chamber of Trade’s Mark Newman.
While Beverley was named the winner, Burnham received cheers and plenty of support when the town was announced by Angel Rippon as one of the runners-up.
Les told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are really pleased that Burnham is seen as being one of the top seven coach-friendly destinations in the UK and are delighted to have been given this recognition for all the work carried out by the Chamber of Trade and supporters on this project.”
“We thank the businesses, groups, and local councils who continue to support the ongoing work to bring coaches into Burnham. Several new contacts were made with coach and travel companies at this week’s awards which will help to encourage even more coach visitors here.”
It comes amid an ongoing project, led by Burnham-On-Sea Chamber Of Trade, to encourage coach firms to bring visitors into the town centre, boosting the economy.
The project is supported by local businesses, the Town Council and Sedgemoor District Council and has attracted a flow of coach visitors through the year, helping to contribute towards Burnham town centre’s footfall increase.
A spokesman for Burnham Chamber of Trade added: “Coach visitors coming to Burnham enjoy our town’s independent shops, the seafront, beach and local cafes. With a good-sized coach parking area that’s well located for easy reach of the town centre via a short and flat walk, Burnham is a perfect location for them.”
The project to promote the town to the coach tourism trade is led by a team of local business people from Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade and Burnham’s Coach Destination Manager, Les Barber.
Town councillor Andy Brewer, who is an independent member of the project group and attends its meetings, praised the project’s work during the latest Burnham and Highbridge Town Council meeting.
Burnham previously won the title of ‘UK Coach Friendly Destination of the Year’ at the 2016 National Coach Tourism Awards.
Pictured above: The Wells project team, led by Ian and Dan Jefferies, were also runners-up at this year’s awards and are pictured here with the Burnham representatives
